Methods, devices, and systems for coupling fluid lines

ABSTRACT

The disclosed subject matter includes embodiments of fluid couplings that prevent or discourage misconnection of fluid lines. A coupling device includes multiple male and female connectors that are joined to a common line. The coupling device is mated to a matching coupling device only when all the multiple male and female connectors are property joined. If any of the connectors is not property mated to a corresponding one, the coupling will leak. The coupling devices are made unique by providing an arrangement the connectors, number of connectors, shape of connectors or arrangement of interfering connector parts that ensure that any attempt to improperly couple two fluid lines will result in the incomplete mating of one or more of the connectors and thereby cause leakage of the fluid, failure of the coupling to engage, or otherwise cause the attempt to connect to fail.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. national stage entry of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US12/41765, filed Jun. 8, 2012, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/494,504, filed on Jun. 8,2011, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

FIELD

A coupling device, method, and system prevents misconnection of fluidconveyances, for example, gases or liquids.

BACKGROUND

Fluid coupling devices have been made for connecting fluid flow paths,for example, for coupling a source of fluid such as a container to aconsuming line or device, such a patient infusion line. Fluid linesources and sinks may include those for gases or liquids or even aerosolsolids, multiphase flows, pressurized or unpressurized fluids, fluidizedflows of solids such as granular material, etc. Many applicationsinvolve hazards that may arise when a misconnection is made betweeninappropriate or mismatched sources, including devices, manifolds, etc.and the consumers. This may occur in environments where multiple fluidsources and consumers are present, for example in a clinical treatmentenvironment with multiple component medicaments and medications whichare all supplied through tubes. Often a single treatment device mayinvolve making multiple connections to various sources and consumerportions of a single system. Many of these couplings are provided withquick disconnect coupling members to enable efficient connection anddisconnection from the source.

In hospitals and other medical facilities, supplies may be incorporatedin manifolds with multiple outlets for supplying gases and/or liquids.Care is required when connecting a supply line to ensure properconnections are made. Misconnections have been known to cause death,such as connecting a pressure line for a blood pressure cuff to aninfusion port enabling air to be infused into the patient's bloodcreating a fatal air embolism. These connectors were compatible and theconnection was easily made. Some instances reported in the U.S. Food andDrug Administration (FDA) Maude database also show forced misconnectionsresulting in patient harm where dissimilar connectors were forcedtogether through operator misuse. The U.S. FDA along with severalregulatory standard organizations; International Standards Organization(ISO), Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation(AAMI), and American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI) have beenworking for several years on finding a solution to these problems. Thisa difficult problem that is further complicated by the many existingconnector systems employed across the wide array of medical products.Many proposed solutions are complex and difficult to manufacture. Forexample, some require multiple action injection molding and hightolerances. In some applications, there is a need to keep costs as lowas possible, such as for disposable sterile medical tubing sets. Otherproposed fluid coupling devices are large and cumbersome or difficult touse. Still others are limited in terms of their potential to reveal animproper connection and are also limited in terms of the variety ofinter-connectable and non-inter-connectable populations that are enabledby the basic configuration. There is an on-going need for improvementsin the field of fluid coupling devices that prevent or discouragemismatched fluid couplings. Known systems are described in U.S. Pat. No.4,211,439, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,640, U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,567, U.S. Pat.No. 5,725,511, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,207, U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,209, U.S.Pat. No. 6,007,107, U.S. RE 38,204, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,719, and USPatent publications US20060047251, US20080077176, US20110203582,US20100283238, and US20110144626.

SUMMARY

The disclosed subject matter includes embodiments of fluid (includingother media such as multiphase flows, fluidized solids, non-rheologicalfluids, granular material, etc.) coupling devices, methods, and systemsthat prevent or discourage, or render impossible, the misconnection ofconnectors attached to other devices or lines including industrystandard connectors. Embodiments are more difficult to circumvent, byattachment of improper connectors, than known systems. In embodimentsthis is accomplished by creating a leak path to the environment, even inthe event of attempts to forcibly connect incompatible connectors suchas standard connectors.

In embodiments, a coupling device includes connector arrangements inwhich flow first port is connected to a first coupling device thatcommunicates with furcated channels extending from a common channel thatconverges the furcated channels to a common port on a second couplingdevice. In embodiments, two furcating channels each connect to multipleconnectors at the interface between the coupling devices. In aparticular example, one coupling device may have male connectors, acombination of male and female connectors, or only female connectors.The other coupling device of a same species (i.e., a coupling devicethat can mate with the one coupling device) has at least onecomplementary set of connectors. Each coupling device is mated to acompatible coupling device (by compatible, we mean a coupling device ofa configuration that may will a complete fluidic connection with it)only when all the multiple connectors (e.g. male and female in thiscase) are joined to the compatible coupling device, and any interferingelements provided on the coupling devices allow a seal to be formed bythe connectors. Note that the connectors may be of any type, theinvaginating types of connectors such as would be characterized as maleor female, being described merely as examples. For example, butt-typecompression seals or other sealing engagements may be employed for anyof the connectors used. Alternative embodiments are also described inwhich instead of multiple connectors, a single non-round connector isused. The single non-round connector may provide for alignment of thecoupling device thereby permitting multiple arrangements of interferingelements to be employed.

If any of the connectors of a coupling device is not properly mated toconnectors of another coupling device, the improperly mated couplingdevices will leak, since the connectors on each side are joined torespective channels. Flow in one completed fluid connection will leakfrom the incomplete, or absent, connection. In embodiments, the couplingdevices may be configured to form compatible and incompatible sets.Compatible coupling devices would ones that are capable of mating andincompatible would not be capable of mating. The various forms may bemade by providing an arrangement of the connectors, number ofconnectors, shape of connectors, or arrangement, shape, type, size, etc.of interfering elements that ensure that any attempt to improperlycouple two coupling devices will result in the incomplete mating of oneor more of the connectors and thereby cause leakage of the fluid,failure of the coupling to engage, or otherwise cause the attempt toconnect to fail.

It will also be evident, from the foregoing and further disclosure, thatthe system provides for coupling devices that are compatible (capable ofmating) with a family of coupling devices that are incompatible withtheir respective compatible coupling devices that are meant to becompatible. Thus, a master coupling device A may be compatible withcoupling devices B and C where B and C are different species. Thus B maybe compatible with D and C may be compatible with E, but B may beincompatible with E and C incompatible with D. Thus, a designer may formvarious interconnection schemes. For example, a fluid source may be madecompatible with a variety of different “client” consuming devices byproviding it with a master coupling device that fits the speciescoupling devices attached to the consuming devices. But other fluidsources may be provided each with a species connector that only allow itto be connected, respectively, to one of the clients and prevents itfrom connecting with the other.

The coupling device system or scheme may be extended in the form of afurther set of embodiments in which instead of having two couplingdevices each with a furcating channel, only one coupling device has afurcating channel. The other coupling device has a closure for one ofthe connectors of the coupling device with the furcating channel. Thecoupling device with the closure has a connector to connect its flowchannel to that of the unclosed connector coupling device with thefurcating channel. In embodiments, the coupling device with the closurewould only be used on safe lines, such as sources of fluids, to preventthe use of rogue connectors on the coupling devices with closures thatcould be used to convey dangerous fluids to a destination where harmmight result, for example bleach to an infusion line.

In embodiments, the effectiveness of the selectivity enforcement and theprevention of a circumvention of the enforcement mechanism by a user areenhanced by the fact that the multiple connectors requires that acertain mutual orientation of the connectors is required in order tocreate a complete and non-leaking connection. To make a completeconnection, for example by making the connection of the male of thefirst connector to the female of the other while simultaneously makingthe connection of the female of the first connector to the male of theother requires the coupling devices be mutually oriented with respect toeach other. By ensuring this orientation, it is possible to provide anarray of interference members that can provide various types ofselectivity between connectors of different configuration. This isbecause the interfering elements can be located at selected points thatare sure to come into interfering engagement as a result of therequirement that the coupling devices are properly oriented. Note, asmentioned elsewhere, connectors do not necessarily need to be of themale and/or female type.

Objects and advantages of embodiments of the disclosed subject matterwill become apparent from the following description when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will hereinafter be described in detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals representlike elements. The accompanying drawings have not necessarily been drawnto scale. Where applicable, some features may not be illustrated toassist in the description of underlying features.

FIGS. 1A through 1C show schematically features of embodiment of thedisclosed coupling device embodiments which provide benefits includingmisconnection prevention, manufacturing economies and small size.

FIGS. 1D and 1E illustrate a variation of the coupling deviceembodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B that includes interfering features thatprevent misconnection.

FIG. 1F illustrates another variation of the coupling device embodimentsof FIGS. 1A and 1B that include connector shape features that preventmisconnection of coupling devices.

FIGS. 1G, 1H, and 1J illustrate arrangements of a coupling device thatillustrate how angular and/or position mismatch of coupling device canbe used to prevent successful mating of incompatible coupling devices.

FIG. 1K illustrates a feature that may be employed in the disclosedembodiments, the feature including a way to form a Y-junction in atwo-part single action molded configuration.

FIG. 1L shows a feature in which an annular rim is provided to form aseal with a cap to allow a multiple connector arrangement to be sealed.

FIG. 1M shows complementary connector features according to furtherembodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 1N, 1P, and 1Q show general coupling device embodiments toillustrate variations.

FIGS. 2A through 2D show an embodiment of a coupling assembly of anasymmetric design that can be made from a two-part single actionmolding.

FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate cap and sealing assemblies that may beused with the configuration of FIGS. 2A through 2D.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an embodiment of coupling system of asymmetricdesign, particularly illustrating a locking scheme.

FIGS. 4C and 4D show a coupling system with a further locking scheme.

FIGS. 5A through 5F show various embodiments of coupling system ofasymmetric design, particularly illustrating various interferenceschemes to make all but proper connections difficult or impossible tomake.

FIG. 6 shows a section of a coupling device to illustrate how the Yjunction may be formed with a two-part molding process in a couplingdevice arrangement.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show details of a symmetric embodiment with locking andprotection features.

FIG. 7C illustrates a scheme that may be used with all the disclosedembodiments for forming compatible and incompatible sets of couplingdevices.

FIG. 7D shows a molding concept for making various species from commonelements.

FIG. 8 shows a coupling device that uses an orientating enforcementmechanism to provide a capability of forming a variety of species ofcoupling devices.

FIG. 9 shows a ganged coupling device pair with a minimum of onen-furcated coupling device portion and an interference feature.

FIG. 10 shows a manifold apparatus incorporating a coupling device andother features according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the fact that various types of connectorsmay be used to exploit the disclosed subject matter and form variousembodiments.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show alternative mechanisms for mating coupling devicesand other alternative features.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show an alternative scheme that may be used to formvarious species of coupling devices.

FIGS. 14C and 14D show embodiments in which a coupling device has twochannels that connect to a single channel forming a double to singleconnector embodiment.

FIGS. 15A to 15E further describe a simple scheme having sixinterference elements and how they give rise to many species ofcompatible and incompatible coupling devices.

FIG. 16A is a flowchart representing a method of making one or morecoupling devices conforming to a standard according to embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter.

FIG. 16B is a flowchart representing a method of using one or morecoupling devices that conform to a standard according to embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate an alternative configuration of a connectorto illustrate additional embodiments.

FIGS. 18A through 18H describe a connector embodiment and its use infurther embodiments of coupling devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1A, first and second coupling devices 1A and 1B eachinclude a Y-junction 12A and 12B which join respective male 16A, 16B andfemale 15A, 15B connectors to a respective common line 10A, 10B. Eachcoupling device 1A, 1B has an interfering element 18A, 18B. Referring toFIG. 1B, when the coupling devices 1A and 1B are properly mated, eachmale connector 16A and 15B forms a seal with a corresponding femaleconnector 15A, 16B. As shown in FIG. 1C, if an attempt is made to matethe female connector 15A of one coupling device 1A with male connector15B of another 1B, fluid will leak from the uncoupled pair 15A and 16Bthere by revealing unsuccessful coupling. Also, the interfering element18A may interfere with the completing of the connection so that in someconfigurations with such interfering elements as interfering element18A, there may be no way even to connect one connector pair suchconnector 15A with 15B as shown in FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1L shows a modification 17 of the foregoing embodiment in which anannular rim 25 is provided to form a seal with a cap 22 to allow themultiple connector (15A, 16A) arrangement to be sealed. The structuremay be packaged as a sterile coupling assembly. Note that inembodiments, the interfering elements 18A, 18B may serve other purposessuch as they may serve a shield function or they may provide surfaces tofacilitate manipulation.

FIG. 1N is an illustration of an embodiment with mating coupling devices41B and 41A having mating connectors 4B, 5B, 4A, and 5A that mate,respectively, to form a furcated channel between ports 3A and 3B. Inthis example, each of the coupling devices 41B and 41A has one each of amale 5A, 5B and female 4A, 4B connector. In the example, the connectors4B, 5B, 4A, and 5A themselves may be relied upon to engage the couplingdevices. Alternatively, non-flow connecting devices may be used to holdthe connectors 4B, 5B, 4A, and 5A together. In addition, the number,size, and shapes of the connectors may be used to form mating species ofcoupling devices.

FIG. 1P is an illustration of an embodiment with mating coupling devices44B and 44A having mating connectors 6B, 8B, 6A, and 8A that mate,respectively, to form a furcated channel between ports 7A and 7B. Inthis example, one of the coupling devices 44B has a pair of a male 8B,6B and the other 44A has a pair of females 6A, 8A. In the example, theconnectors 6B, 8B, 6A, 8A themselves may be relied upon to engage thecoupling devices. Alternatively, non-flow connecting devices may be usedto hold the connectors 4B, 5B, 4A, and 5A together. In addition, thenumber, size, and shapes of the connectors may be used to form matingspecies of coupling devices.

FIG. 1Q is an illustration of an embodiment with mating coupling devices45B and 45A having two male mating connectors 26A that sealingly engagewith respective female connectors 26B of coupling device 45A and onefemale connector 27A that mates with one male connector 27B of couplingdevice 45B. These form a trifurcated channel between ports 24A and 24B,the lumens of the connectors 26A, 27A being connected to furcatingchannel 24A and the lumens of the connectors 26B and 27B being connectto furcating channel 24B. In the example, the connectors 24B, 27B, 26A,27A themselves may be relied upon to engage the coupling devices.Alternatively, non-flow coupling devices may be used to hold theconnectors together. Shields or manipulation-enhancing features may alsobe employed or combined with interference elements. In addition, thenumber, size, and shapes of the connectors may be used to formselectively interfering engagement elements that define compatible andincompatible species of coupling devices.

In the foregoing, and other examples below, because the misconnectedcoupling devices have unconnected connectors that constitute majorchannels, given that each connector may be made responsible for handlinghalf the total maximum flow rate, the incomplete junction is large sothat the incompetence of the connection is very obvious. It is thereforeunlikely to be overlooked or tolerated by a user or observer. Also,medical devices that detect leaks may have their leak detectionmechanisms triggered by improper connection attempts. A drawback ofprior art embodiments is that leaks created by misconnection may besubstantially smaller than the overall flow so a misconnection may notbe so obvious. Thus, in embodiments, a device here can form a connectionwhere interconnected incompatible coupling devices are defined by anopen channel that is approximately half the total flow cross-sectionwhen properly mated. In trifurcated or N-furcated connectors, theleaking flow may be an even higher fraction of the total, assuming amisconnection is made between only one connector on each end.

Further embodiments may be developed based on the foregoing in whichmore than two male-female connectors are used in each coupling device.In such embodiments, unsuccessful mating of coupling devices may resultin a breach constituting less than half the flow area but at least asubstantial fraction of the total flow area. The relative sizes of themale and female connectors may also be varied to create a range ofdifferent unique coupling pairs. The relative locations of the male andfemale connectors may also be varied to create a range of differentunique coupling pairs. The shapes of the male and female connectors mayalso be varied to create a range of different unique coupling pairs.Combinations of these variations can be used to further expand the rangeof coupling pairs. Still further unique pairs can be generated frominterfering and connecting elements such as the shape, position, or sizeof the interfering elements 18A, 18B.

Note that the interfering elements 18A, 18B may be of a variety of sizesand/or shapes, for example they may wrap at partly around the connectors16A, 16B, 15A, 15B to act as a partial cover. They may also serve tofacilitate handling, and/or provide orienting features to facilitateproper relative orientation of the coupling devices.

A common feature of the foregoing (and many further) embodiments is thatthe leak path resulting from unsuccessful mating forms part of thenormal flow channel when the connection is properly made. In prior artsystems, the leak path includes a side channel that is not normally usedfor flow. This may provide a result that if an improper connection ismade then corrected, there is no risk that an unused flow path portionwill contain stagnant liquid. Such stagnant pools may create a risk formultiphase flows or biological fluids, such as sedimentation orthrombogenesis. So in embodiments, a two-part coupling device systemuses only main channels to provide the compatibility scheme and no sidechannels are required. This makes for a clean system which is simple andcannot result in side pockets where flow can stagnate.

The features described above are common to the following embodimentsbelow as are the variations attributed to them.

Note that although in the embodiments discussed above and below, thedevice employed for preventing misconnection may include an interferenceelement, other types of connection prevention devices may also employed,for example, devices that induce excessive friction, such as aninvaginating post and recess that fit too tightly to allow the couplingdevices to be brought together.

A feature of the foregoing embodiments is that coupling devices for aparticular source of fluid or upstream or downstream component can onlybe mated with a corresponding coupling device. A feature of theembodiments is to prevent a certain coupling device from being connectedto any other type of coupling device without rendering the connectionessentially useless and further to make it apparent to the user that theconnection is not possible or evident that an improper connection is notsuccessful.

In the foregoing, a useful property of a coupling assembly is evident.This is that any attempt to defeat the functionality of the mismatchedcoupling devices is revealed and rendered useless. Above, ahermaphroditic coupling assembly, each having at least male and a femaleside, can be mated. If either coupling device is connected to a tubewith only a male or female connector, the connection will leak sinceeach side has a Y-branch. Further embodiments can include couplingdevices with only males on one side and only females on the other side.Although not illustrated, their configurations should be evident fromthe disclosure.

Although the embodiments illustrated above provide manufacturingeconomies in that each member of a mating pair may be identical inconfiguration and therefore manufacturable from the same mold, it may bedesirable to prevent interconnection of one source to another source,for example rather than a source to a sink. In that case, a feature thatindicates or prevents identical coupling pairs from being interconnectedmay be provided. One example is to make the coupling devicesnon-identical such as by providing incompatible interfering elements orby providing males connectors on one coupling device and femaleconnectors on the other. Another example is to provide interferingelements such as posts (see embodiments infra) on one coupling devicefor sources and a different set of posts on the other such that when asource to source coupling is attempted, the posts would prevent matingof the coupling devices. Colors and labels may be added to theembodiments to further clarify proper and improper mating pairs.

The foregoing and further embodiments may be provided as parts of tubingsets that are sterilized. They may also be provided with medicaments andmedications. For example, a coupling element of a first unique pair maybe provided on a medication container port and its complement on aninfusion line coupling. A different unique pair may be provided on amedicament container such as a bag of dialysate and its complement on afluid circuit interoperable with a dialysis treatment device. Anotherexample may be a fluid circuit used for generation of peritonealdialysate from components in which each component is attachable torespective ports of a manifold by a respective unique pair.

Embodiments may be formed, by suitable arrangement of posts or otherinterconnection elements, to form universally compatible, orquasi-universally compatible coupling devices. For example, a couplingdevice with no interfering elements may be mated to ones with differentarrangements of interfering elements which render them selective withrespect to certain other coupling elements also having interferingelements. Embodiments are discussed below. Such universal couplingdevices may be used, for example, on sources of fluid that are notconsidered risky or harmful. For example, they may be provided on bagsof saline whilst more selective coupling devices may be provided onmedication containers.

Referring to FIGS. 1D and 1E, coupling devices 30A and 30B, in additionto having pairs of male and female connectors 15A, 15B, 16A, and 16B,also have compatible interfering or engaging element pairs indicated at32A, 32B and 34A, 34B. When arranged as shown, elements 32A and 32B arepositioned so that when the coupling devices 30A and 30B are pushedtogether, the interfering or engaging element pairs indicated at 32A,32B and 34A, 34B permit the insertion of male connector 16A into femaleconnector 16B and male connector 15B into female connector 15A. However,a different species indicated at 30C in FIG. 1E has interfering elements32C and 34C that are do not fit the elements 32B and 34B blocking theinsertion of male connectors 16A and 15B into respective femaleconnectors 16B and 15A.

The elements 32C and 32B may interfere to prevent the mating of theconnectors 15A, 15B, 16A, and 16B by virtue of their shapes, positions,angles, and/or other aspects that cause them to block full positioningof the coupling devices 30A and 30C that would permit the connectors15A, 15B, 16A, and 16B from fully mating. By interfering, it is intendedto convey that the elements mutually block or deflect. Interferingelements may take the form of functional elements such as sterilityshields, manipulations surfaces, or latches that keep coupling devicesfrom coming apart, or other features such as alignment devices ordevices that facilitate handling. Interfering elements may constituteseparate elements such posts and matching holes. Examples are describedbelow.

It should be emphasized that these illustrations are conceptual and notintended to represent the detailed configuration of an actual commercialembodiment, which details would be possible to provide by those of skillin the art.

The male and female connector elements may be formed such as to formmutually mating or non-mating pairs by virtue of their shape, size,and/or position. For example, in FIG. 1F, male and female connectors37A, 37B and 35A, 35B are shaped and/or sized so as to be compatibleonly with coupling devices 31A, 31B that are capable of mating with themand to prevent the complete connection of incompatible species ofcoupling device. Examples include ellipse-shaped (in cross-section)connectors that may be uniquely compatible by virtue of theirorientation as indicated at 43 in FIG. 1L or luer-like connectors withbeveled tips as indicated at 42 which, if mis-connected, would leak.

Referring now to FIGS. 1G and 1H, the angular orientation of the pair ofmating male and female connectors may specify uniquely compatible pairsof coupling devices. Coupling devices 50 and 51 have male 56A, 56B andfemale 55A, 55B counterpart connectors that are positioned so as topermit them to engage when shield portions 60A and 60B are oriented forengagement. Latch clips 62A and 62B are also positioned to engageengagement edges (not shown) on the shield portions. Note that couplingdevice 51 is shown from the back and hidden lines used to show thepositions of the male and female connectors 55B and 56B. FIG. 1H showsessentially the same features as in FIG. 1G except that the pair ofconnectors 72A and 72B of coupling devices 52, 53, while mutuallycompatible, are not compatible with either of the connectors 55A, 56Aand 55B, 56B of FIG. 1G (50 and 51).

Referring now to FIG. 1J, coupling devices 89A, 89B that are similar tothose of FIGS. 1G and 1H are shown from a side view. A shield portion87A, 87B helps to protect connectors 84A, 84B, 86A, 86B from touchcontamination and facilitates handling. Coupling device 89A is shownwith the shield portion 87A facing the viewer. A tab 85A, 85B interlockswith a respective slot 88A, 88B. Common lines 82A and 82B are connectedto, and interconnect, connectors 84A, 84B, 86A, 86B respectively.

FIG. 1K illustrates a mechanism for forming a Y-junction by definingports 95 at an interface of two cylindrical sections 93 and 91 with onecylindrical section where the latter forms the common line of theY-junction and the former form the male and female connectors. Thearrangement may be formed by a single action mold. The broken lines 94indicate a cutout which may be formed in a post-shaped portion of anupper mold to accommodate a cylindrical post shape of the bottom mold.

FIGS. 2A through 2D show an embodiment of a coupling with couplingdevices 101 and 103 of an asymmetric design that can be made from atwo-part single action molding. Each of the coupling devices 101 and 103has a respective body 102, 104 with an internal passage that connectconnectors 110, 112, 132, and 134 to respective common ports 121 and 120for connection to a supply or destination line or device. A rim 118, 119surrounds a respective set of connectors, helps to protect them fromtouch contamination during use, facilitates handling, and providesengagement for a cover 140 described below. Locking tab 114A can beinserted into, and engage the end of port 106A and locking table 114Bcan be inserted in, and engage, the end of port 106B. With locking tab114B being larger, it is not possible to insert it in port 106A. Infurther embodiments, the angles of the tabs 114A, 114B and correspondingports 106A and 106B pairs can define features that make for compatibleand incompatible coupling device species and compatible and incompatibleorientations in the same manner as the diverse locking tab sizes areused here.

A feature shown in the present embodiment, and which may be applied toother embodiments and variations enabled hereby, connectors 110 and 112and 132 and 134 may be enclosed in a cover 140 shaped as shown in FIGS.3A, 3B, and 3C and inserted in a respective well 137, 148. The cover 140may have a rim 142 and a recess 144 to accommodate the connectors 110and 112 and 132 and 134. It may be formed by vacuum molding and may haveribs to improve rigidity.

The connectors 110 and 112 and 132 and 134 may be extended into furtherembodiments by adding features such as described above includingvariations in number, angle, shape, and/or additional elements such asinterfering elements. The coupling devices 101 and 103 are compatible,but it is clear using the toolkit of devices described above and belowherein, that variations that are compatible and incompatible are readilypossible.

The shape of the structures of the coupling devices 101, 103 are suchthat, it will be apparent, they may be formed from a single action mold.That is, the shapes of opposite surfaces of each part have neutral orpositive draft permitting each entire part to be formed from a singletwo-part mold without any complex actions. Also, the design has thefeatures discussed above with reference to FIG. 1A to 1Q or may bereadily modified to include them according to the foregoing description.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an embodiment of a compatible coupling device pair200. A first coupling device 202 mates with a second coupling device203. First coupling device 202 has a pair of latching tabs 206 thatinsert into and latch in ports 208 of the second coupling device 203.Male and female connectors 210 and 212 (not shown for coupling device202) are positioned within respective annular shields 208, 211 which mayreceive a cover as described with reference to FIG. 3A. A common port,as indicated at 204, is provided which branches to the male and femaleconnectors 210, 212. FIG. 4A shows the coupling devices far apart andFIG. 4B shows them about to be interconnected. The tabs 206 ensure thatonce connected the two coupling devices do not come apart inadvertently.They may be disengaged by pressing the tabs 206 inwardly together.Common ports such as indicated at 204 and elsewhere in similarembodiments provides the ability to connect the coupling devices totubing including plain tubing, parts of fluid circuits, sources of fluidsuch as containers, and other external devices.

FIG. 4D shows a coupling device 209 with another type of locking systemthat uses a lock ring 230 that engages internal threads (not visibleinside the lock ring 230) with tabs 218. FIG. 4C shows the couplingdevice 207 without the lock ring 230 to reveal features beneath the lockring 230. A common port 232 connects internally of a body to male andfemale connectors 220 and 222. Guides 226 fit in slots 228 to preventrotation and provide a feature to form selectively compatible pairs (orsets) of coupling devices. Note FIG. 4C shows the coupling device 207(the one carrying the lock ring 230) without the lock ring 230 to showhow the parts engage. In use, the lock ring 230 would be pre-assembled.

FIG. 5A shows first and second coupling devices 302 and 308 each havinga pair of male and female connectors 342 and 344. A slot 332 receives atab 330 and its position relative to the tab 330, with respect to thetwo connectors 342 and 344, determines whether the coupling device 302and 308 are compatible. In the illustrated example, the tab 330 isaligned with the slot 332. If the angular placement of the slot 332 andtab 330 are not aligned in a variant of the pictured device pair, whenthe connectors 342 and 344 are aligned to connect mutually, aninterference will arise and the coupling devices 302 and 308 will notcome together sufficiently to connect the male and female connectors 342and 344. The devices use the same locking tab 331 and port 333 featuredescribed above. This locking feature is common to the embodiments ofFIGS. 5A through 5F so it will not be described again. However, it willbe noted that the locking tab 331A is smaller than locking tab 331Bwhich serves as an orienting mechanism or compatibility-selectionmechanism, which may be combined with the tab and slot mechanism to formvarious species of compatible and incompatible coupling devices.

FIG. 5B shows another pair of coupling devices 304 and 310 with adifferent form of interference device in the form of posts 322 and 320.The posts, if aligned when the male and female connectors are positionedfor connection, may interfere, thereby preventing connection. If onecoupling device 304 or 310 is rotated to cause the interfering posts 320and 322 to avoid each other, then the male and female connectors will beunaligned and connection will again not be possible, even for a speciesin which the locking tabs 334A were sized to permit the coupling devices304 and 310 to be so rotated and interconnected. FIG. 5C shows couplingdevices 306 and 312 with a tab 326 that fits in a port 324 and otherwiseinterferes with other parts of the coupling device 306 if not alignedwith the port.

FIGS. 5D and 5E illustrate coupling devices 350, 352, and 354 which areincompatible, respectively, with coupling devices 351, 353, and 355 byvirtue of having interfering elements as described now. In the pair 350and 351 of FIG. 5D, the position of posts 356 and 358 prevent closure ofthe coupling device pair. These posts may be placed in a variety ofpositions on the surface 357 to form other embodiments and may number,and be sized, variously to form ranges of compatible and incompatiblespecies. In the pair 352 and 353 of FIG. 6B, the position of posts 362and 364 and/or 366 and 368 prevent or permit closure of the couplingdevice pair. FIG. 5F illustrates a compatible pair of coupling devices354 and 355. It has interference devices that are arranged so as not tointerfere with each other but would interfere with coupling deviceshaving different arrangements of similar features. Coupling devices 354and 355 may be modified to form various combination of posts 372 andraised surfaces 374 which may be positioned at different positions toform a variety of compatible and incompatible (mating and non-mating)pairs.

Note that it may be confirmed by inspection that the foregoingembodiments may be molded using a simple two-part mold. In embodiments,this is the case, but it is by no means essential to the disclosedsubject matter.

FIG. 6 shows, in a coupling device embodiment 400, a feature discussedabove in which a Y-junction is formed by the volumetric overlap of thelumens 406, 402 of the common line 406 and mating connectors (one ofwhich is indicated at 402). This forms a junction (or port) 404 betweenthe connectors (e.g., 402) and the common line 406. The configurationlends itself to being formed by two-part mold. The figure alsoillustrates how a post 408 can be provided in a similar moldingoperation as it should be clear the shape is characterized by neutral orpositive draft surfaces.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a coupling device that has a symmetrical shape sothat a mating pair can be formed from a single mold. The two couplingdevices interlock by means of a tab 454 that engages an edge 456 whenthe male and female 462 and 460 connectors are brought togethersufficiently to seal. A shield 452 can be pinched as indicated by arrowsat 467 to flex the shield 452 moving the edge 456 radially outward (seearrow 468) thereby releasing the tab 454. A common port is shown at 450.In further symmetrical embodiments, a post 466 can be positioned varyingpositions to form compatible and incompatible sets of coupling devices.The symmetrical devices would always be compatible because they aremirror images of each other, but the variants would not necessarily bycompatible with each other.

FIG. 7C shows a scheme for arranging the post 466 and additional poststo create varying embodiments. The possible post positions are indicatedat 508. Different species of coupling device may have a differentcombination and number of posts at these locations. Even with theunnecessarily restrictive assumption that posts at 508 (correspondingfor example to the post 466 but applicable to other embodimentsdisclosed herein) may only have the six indicated positions around themale 504 and female 506 connectors on a coupling device 502, it ispossible to form a large number of arrangements. And further assumingthe posts 508 have a single length and size, a coupling device with onepost 508, would still be able to mate with many other coupling deviceswith posts and multiples of posts in the other 5 non-interferinglocations (including the one with zero posts). By varying the lengthsand sizes of the posts or providing other numbers, much larger sets arepossible. This will be apparent from the discussion of FIGS. 15A through15E.

Thus, it will be observed that even with a simple scheme as illustratedin FIG. 7C, a very large number of combinations and compatible sets maybe formed. By combining with other features such as size and angle oflocking tabs and further interference devices such a connector spacing,size shape and the other features described herein, a great variety ofcoupling device species are possible. Note that although the simplediversification scheme describe above was applied using the basic designof FIGS. 7A and 7B, it is clearly applicable to other embodimentsdescribed herein. The scheme can be generalized for other pairsdirectly. The scheme is elaborated further below, with reference toFIGS. 15A through 15E.

The post scheme described with reference to FIG. 7C may be used withreplaceable inserts in a standard mold which inserts are readilymachinable (See also FIG. 7D and attending discussion). For example thefloor 461 and posts (posts) 266, 508 may be molded with a mold portion470 that contains holes 474 that may be fitted with inserts 472, or leftopen as shown at 474, to cause one or more posts to be created inselected positions. A pin 475 is shown in a well portion 479 that formsthe connector part 462 in this embodiment. The drawing of FIG. 7D is notdetailed and is only for purposes of illustrating the molding concept.This concept is applicable to other embodiments described herein and maybe extended other types of interference devices of different shape anddescription as described herein.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, instead of posts on a planarsurface, as illustrated for example in FIG. 7C, the planar surface maybe made irregular thereby creating the effect of a variety of posts withselective interfering potential.

FIG. 8 shows a coupling device 611 with a mechanical feature thatenforces a predefined orientation (prevents improper orientation) byhaving a rotationally asymmetric sleeve part 602 that closely conformsto a similarly shaped insert part (not shown) of a mating couplingdevice. The predefined orientation ensures that posts 604 (not allnumbered but any number may be present) interfere with correspondingopposing posts or posts on the mating coupling device. A connector 606mates with a suitable connector (not shown) on the mating couplingdevice.

FIG. 8 illustrates that although it is possible to form alternativeorientation enforcement mechanisms, the furcation mechanism has theadvantage that it cannot easily be defeated by commonly available rogueconnections such a tube end that could be slipped over the sleeve part602. A user would find it difficult to engage multiple connectors of acoupling device according to the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows a ganged coupling device pair 624A and 624B with first andsecond coupling device bodies 622 and 633 with non-furcating channels626 and 624 (and others as shown) leading to respective connectors(e.g., 699), and furcating channels 628 and 636 leading to connectors(e.g., 689) at the opening ends of furcated channels 625, 630, 627, and629, respectively. All of the connectors 689, 699 may be identical andformed, for example, by elastomer sealing rings or O-rings with matingfaces. Note that only one set of non-furcating channels 624 and 626 islabeled to avoid crowding the drawing, but others are represented. Thefurcating and non-furcating channels define furcating coupling devices626A and 626B that are integrated in the ganged coupling devices 624Aand 624B, as well as non-furcating coupling devices 632A and 632B alsointegrated in the ganged coupling devices 624A and 624B. The number offurcating coupling devices and non-furcating coupling devices may bevaried to form additional embodiments. For example, a ganged couplingdevice can include exclusively furcating coupling devices or any ratioof furcating and non-furcating coupling devices. A distinctive featureof embodiments is that there is at least one furcating coupling devicein a ganged coupling device pair 624A and 624B. Alternative, asexplained below with reference to FIGS. 14A and 14B, one of the gangedcoupling devices may carry one or more coupling devices which has aclosure rather than a furcating channel. This is an alternativeextension of the disclosed subject matter that is elaborated in thediscussion of FIGS. 14A and 14B, infra.

The connectors 689, 699 may be sealed by O-rings 623 or other suitableelastomeric seals that are compressed by a suitable latching mechanism(not shown). Of course any suitable connector type can be substitutedincluding any of the types described in embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Each non-furcating channel 624 and 626 may be connected to arespective tube 620, 621 or to some other fluid circuit system such as apanel-type cartridge fluid circuit (not shown). Similarly, furcatingchannels 628, 636 may connect to respective tubes or to some other fluidcircuit system such as a panel-type cartridge fluid circuit (not shown).An interference device capable of ensuring against misconnection ofincompatible species of ganged coupling devices may be provided on theganged coupling device pair, such as an arrangement of one or posts (oneshown at 638) on one of the ganged and one or more correspondingrecesses (one shown at 639). As in previous embodiments, the interferingdevices may take a variety of forms and may be arrayed in a variety ofpatterns or positions to produce compatible and incompatible families ofganged coupling device species.

FIG. 10 shows a manifold device 613A and a manifold coupling device613B. The manifold device 613A has multiple-connector chamber 673 whichfluidly couple the ends of connectors, for example connectors 674, 676,and 680, in a single channel to form a manifold. The connectors 674,676, and 680 are depicted figuratively and any suitable type can beused. In a practical system, the manifold 673 may be coupled to anactuator mechanism 670 with plungers 672 to that selectively open andclose the connector ends by pushing against parts of a membrane 671abutting the respective connectors, for example at a rear facing port asindicated for example at 681. Connectors 674 and 676 are furcated andcombine or divide the flow through a port 681, depending on the flowdirection. The connectors 674 and 676 form a coupling device thatinterconnects with a furcating coupling device 683 having connector 675and 677 which lead to a furcating channel 678. The non-furcatingconnectors 679 and 680 (again only one labeled because they are allidentical) lead to respective non-furcating channels, one indicated at688. The channels and connectors of the manifold coupling device may beinterconnected by a member 682 that permanently attaches the connectorsand coupling elements together as a unit. The manifold coupling device613B and manifold device 613A may be made modified in various ways toform selective species of pairs of such devices according to any of themethods or configurations described herein and variations thereof. Forexample, the furcating coupling device 683 may be provided withinterfering elements as described elsewhere herein. Also interferingelements may be provided on the member 682 and manifold device 613A, forexample as illustrated with respect to FIG. 9.

The manifold coupling device may be provided as a unitary device. Thismakes the full set of connectors and coupling devices for allconnections conveniently available as a unit, thereby discouragingmisconnection as long as furcating coupling device 683 is compatible.The member 682 may be configured as a rigid frame such that connectorsmay only be attached when the furcating coupling device 683 is in a in apredefined orientation with respect to the connectors 674, 676. Then allthe connectors 679 are positioned, as a result of orienting the member682, to mate with corresponding connectors 680, so that the selectivityof the coupling device 683 may ensure the other connectors are properlymated. In various embodiments based on the embodiment of FIG. 10, thenumber of furcating and non-furcating coupling devices may vary and anynumber of each may be included. Also, the variation described withreference to FIGS. 14A and 14B may be utilized to form furtherembodiments.

FIG. 11A shows a coupling device 700 that employs butt-sealing typeconnectors. A body 702 provides furcating channel 706 on one side andanother body 704 provides a furcating channel 708 on the other side.Connector 715 seals to connector 717 using elastomeric seals 705 (onlyone labeled) when the two bodies 702 and 704 are urged together andclipped in place by latches 710 which engage on edges 712 of the body704. Of course the elastomer seals may be relocated to the other or acombination of the blocks 702 and 704 in additional embodiments. Toillustrate further that a variety of different types of connectors maybe used to achieve various functions of the disclosed subject matter,another type of connector is illustrated which employs needles 740 andseptums 742. A body 729 provides furcating channel 728 on one side andanother body 724 provides a furcating channel 730 on the other side.Each connector with a septum 742 seals to a connector with a respectiveneedle 740 when the two bodies 729 and 724 are urged together andclipped in place by latches 726 which engage on edges 725 of the body724. Of course the needles and septums may be relocated to the other ora combination of the blocks 729 and 724 in additional embodiments.

Referring now to FIGS. 12A and 12B, first and second coupling devices603A and 603B mated to each other. The first coupling device 603A has abody 644 with a flow channel 646 that furcates into channels 648 and651. The second coupling device has a body 647 with a flow channel 649that furcates into channels 650 and 652. Respective connections may bemade to channels 649 and 646. The body 644 of the coupling device 603Amay be seated in a well 631 to seal openings of channel 648 to channel650 and an opening of channel 651 to channel 652 creating a flow pathbetween the channels 646 and 649. An aperture 653 helps to ensure thatan improper connection will leak fluid and may provide an access formolding elements that may be used to form channels 650 and 652.Referring now also to FIG. 12C, a views taken about planes A-A indicatedat 780 and B-B indicated at 781 show how the coupling device 603A may beprovided with features such as grooves 754 and ridges 756 to create ascheme for forming species pairs that may be mated and species thatcannot mate with them by varying the positions, sizes, shapes of ridgesand grooves that are compatible and incompatible depending on thespecies.

FIG. 13 illustrates a pair of coupling devices 800A and 800B that arecapable of mating and in which magnetic attraction of magnetic blocks812 and 822 are used to force together connectors 818 and 814respectively with connectors 820 and 826. In the present embodiment, asingle elastomeric seal 824 in block 822 engages a complementary groove816 in block 812 to form a seal that surrounds both connector pairs 818,814 and 820, 826. Arrangements of posts 828 and wells 829, for example,or other interfering elements may be used to form species that can mateand ones that cannot mate using features and teachings from the otherembodiments. Also, the shapes of the seals may be varied according todifferent patterns to form another mechanism, which also may be appliedto other embodiments, to form additional species that can mate or whichare unable to mate. Thus, where seals are shaped such that they cannotalign, the result will be a leak indicating the incompatibility of thecoupling devices.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show an alternative scheme that may be used to formvarious species of coupling devices. The teachings with regard to all ofthe above embodiments may be applied in a scheme in which, rather thanproviding a first coupling device that furcates an internal channelthereof, and mating it to one that also has a furcating channel, onecoupling device would contain a single channel and connector and adevice to close one of the connectors (or other type of opening). Afirst coupling device 870A with a body 840 contains a single channel 844with an elastomer-type butt connector 849 at the end thereof. The firstcoupling device body 840 also has a plug 848. A second coupling device870B with body 842 has a channel 846 that furcates into two channels 852and 854 with respective connectors constituted by the respectiveopenings thereof at 856 and 858. One of these channels 858 is sealed bythe connector 849 when the coupling devices 870A and 870B areinterconnected as shown in FIG. 14B. The other opening 856 is closed bythe plug 848. A suitable latching mechanism may be provided to hold andurge the bodies 840 and 842 together. By this scheme, a function that issimilar to that of the other embodiments may be created. The scheme mayemploy coupling device embodiments that are mechanically similar to theembodiments disclosed. A variety of embodiments may be envisioned asmodification of the previously disclosed embodiments with one (or moredepending on the number of connectors) of the furcating channels of oneconnector completely filled in. Of course the coupling devices would notnecessarily be manufactured that way. Thus, it is proposed that theconcept behind the embodiment of coupling devices 870A, 870B provides aprescription for modifying any of the foregoing embodiments to form newembodiments.

FIGS. 14C and 14D show embodiments in which a coupling device has twochannels that connect to a single channel forming a double-to-singlechannel coupling device. Referring to FIG. 14C, a first female couplingdevice has body 1002 with a single channel shown at 1010 that receives amale coupling device body 1006 with two channels 1007. The singlechannel 1010 is shaped according to the outer surface of the male body1006 over a portion thereof at least, for form a seal with the malecoupling device body 1006. Thus, the two channels 1007 are connected bya single channel 1010 upon connection of the coupling device. Theconnection concept embodied in the coupling device arrangement mayadapted for use in coupling device described elsewhere herein to formnew embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 14D, a second female coupling device has body 1012with a single channel shown at 1011 that receives a male coupling devicebody 1005 with two channels 1009. The single channel 1011 is shapedaccording to the outer surface of the male body 1005 over a portionthereof at least, for form a seal with the male coupling device body1005. Thus, the two channels 1009 are connected by a single channel 1010upon connection of the coupling device. The connection concept embodiedin the coupling device arrangement may adapted for use in couplingdevice described elsewhere herein to form new embodiments.

It will be apparent that the female body channel must provide aconforming shape to prevent a leak from either of the male body channelsin the embodiments of FIGS. 14C and 14D. This feature discourages theuse of connectors such luers or even plain tubing ends being connectedinadvertently.

Referring now to FIGS. 15A through 15E, as discussed above withreference to FIG. 7C, disclosed embodiments provide a basis for making avariety of compatible and incompatible species of coupling device. FIG.15A shows a pair of coupling devices 902 and 904. Coupling device 902has a pair of flow connectors 910 and 912 and coupling device 904 has apair of flow connectors 914 and 916. Each coupling device 902 and 904shows standardized locations of posts 906, 907, 908, and 909 (not allsix locations on each coupling device is shown to avoid crowding thedrawing). There are six locations at different points on a face of eachcoupling device. When the coupling device 902 is mated to the couplingdevice 904, the two faces shown in the drawing, face each other.Therefore, any posts at identical locations will interfere and block theability of a user to make a connection between the respective connectors914 to 912 and 916 to 910. The posts may be labeled according to abinary scheme as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 which are shown on the drawing.The binary scheme allows a binary number to be used to represent thepost layout in a single table shown in FIGS. 15B through 15E (the tableis broken into quadrants to make it legible) to indicate combinations ofpost positions that form compatible and incompatible species of couplingdevice. Again, a compatible species of coupling device is a pair thatcan be successfully connected for fluid flow. If posts are ininterfering positions on two example coupling devices, the two are notcompatible because the interfering positions prevents theirinterconnection.

In an example, assume coupling device A has two posts located locations906 and 907 and coupling device B has two posts located at locations 908and 909. And assume that no posts are present at the other locations.Both arrangements would have posts at the 16 and 32 locations whichcorresponds to the binary number 110000 (i.e., 32+16=48=110000 binary).The combination of layouts:

-   -   coupling device A uses 110000 (posts at locations 16 and 32)    -   coupling device B uses 110000 (posts at locations 16 and 32)        is shown in Table 15E. As will be confirmed by inspection, the        posts in this example would be directly opposite each other and        therefore would interfere making the pair of coupling devices        incompatible. Table 15E represents the conflict with X (circle        in Table 15E). On the other hand, if coupling device A has posts        located at positions 1, 2, 4, and 8 and the other coupling        device has posts at locations 16 and 32, then no interference        occurs. In this pair, coupling device A is represented by 15 or        001111 binary and coupling device B by 48 or binary 110000. This        combination is shown in the table of FIG. 15D in the circle        superposed thereon. There is no X at this location, indicating        the combination of coupling devices is compatible.

Note the features described with reference to FIGS. 15A through 15E arereadily applied or extended to other embodiments herein and are clearlynot limited to the particular shape and configuration of the couplingdevice represented in FIG. 15A. Also, the design of the couplingdevices, to the extent illustrated FIG. 15A is symmetrical. It should bereadily apparent that the scheme is not limited to symmetrical couplingdevice configurations, for example it may be applied to the embodimentof FIG. 5A.

In all the embodiments and in further embodiments falling within thescope of the disclosed subject matter, it may be desirable for thecoupling devices to be configured so as to make it easy for a user toidentify compatible and incompatible coupling devices easily and withoutclose inspection. Thus, one or more distinct features which make itevident whether a coupling device conforms to a standard specificationfor the coupling device and which coupling devices are compatible, wouldbe desirable. There are many known ways for providing such indications,for example, a standard set of color-coding may be used. Labeling thecoupling devices by means of tags with specific shapes may also be used.The coupling devices may be labeled using protective caps or seals,which may have embossed codes or color coding, for example. An exampleis the cover 140 shown in FIG. 3A.

As indicated above, it will be noted that the schemes described aboveand others that may be generated based on the present disclosure,provides for the making of families of compatible and incompatiblecoupling devices. These “prescriptions” may be used to establish astandard for allowed coupling devices based on defined classes ofdevices to which the coupling devices will be attached. For example, thestandard might define a class of containers of dialysate. The standardmay specify that all coupling devices attached to containers ofdialysate use a specific coupling device embodiment, for example, apredefined arrangement of posts such as one of the specific examplesdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 15A through 15E (and indicatedby circles in the respective tables). The article would have distinctfeatures to indicate the type of coupling device and/or the class ofarticle to which it is coupled and such features may also be part of thestandard and specified by the standard data. The presently disclosedsubject matter lends itself to such a standard not only by providingways to manufacture large families of alternative configurations thatare compatible and incompatible but also by providing a connectorconfiguration, for example, the multiple connector configuration, whichmay be unique. This unique configuration, by its shape is difficult toconnect to known coupling devices. Thus, it will be evident thatcoupling devices not conforming to the standard will almost certainly beincompatible with the coupling devices defined by such a standard andemploying the coupling device configurations of the presently disclosedsubject matter.

Note that in additional embodiments, the locations such as 908 mayidentify posts on one coupling device and recesses that allow thepost-bearing coupling device to pass in thereby permitting two couplingdevices to mate. So compatible coupling device pairs would have recessesthat coincide with any posts and incompatible coupling devices would nothave coinciding with all of the posts so that the coupling devicescannot be interconnected.

Referring to FIG. 16A, a process is illustrated for manufacturingcoupling devices according to a shared standard. At S10, a manufacturerof coupling devices consults a standard specification representing howto make conforming devices and the various classes of application,namely, the type of article, device, or system to which the couplingdevices may be attached. At S12 the manufacturer may identify the classof application for the coupling devices to be manufactured. For example,the manufacturer may be one who makes coupling devices for customermanufacturers who incorporate the coupling devices in their respectivearticles, devices, or systems. The manufacturer also may be one whomakes a device, article, or system with an integrated coupling device.At S14, the description of the conforming coupling device is identifiedresponsively to the class in accord with the standard specification. AtS16, the manufacturer may configure a manufacturing process to make oneor more coupling devices and/or articles, devices, or systems withattached coupling devices, according to the indicated conformingdescription. At S18, the coupling device is manufactured, which mayinclude the manufacture of the article, device, or system.

Examples of articles, devices, and systems include containers (filledwith a particular type of fluid and unfilled), a disposable fluidcircuit for a medical treatment, a water treatment plant (which may havea coupling device for product water); a needle set, a pressurized airhose, an online dialysate preparation plant, or a filter.

Referring to FIG. 16B, a user may provide a coupling device or multiplecoupling devices as a kit, as part of a system, or integrated in adevice at S22. For example, the user could be a dialysis nurse whoprovides and sets up a fluid circuit and fluids for a treatment. A fluidcircuit and fluid packaging may be provided that have pre-attachedcoupling devices conforming to a standard specification. A purchasingagent may choose to purchase and supply to the dialysis nurse only fluidcircuit and fluids that conform to the standard. At S24, a firstcoupling device is selected for connection. For example, the nurse inthe example may install a fluid circuit on a dialysis machine andidentify one or more coupling devices to be coupled with other couplingdevices. For example, the first coupling device may be attached to afilter which is to be coupled to a fluid circuit coupling device. AtS26, a second coupling device is identified and at S28 the couplingdevices are coupled. This may be repeated by a user several times.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate an alternative configuration of a connectorto illustrate additional embodiments of coupling devices. A couplingdevice 922, shown facing the viewer in the manner of FIGS. 7C and 15A,has an array of interfering elements 924 that may be positioned invarious ways as described with reference to FIGS. 7C and 15A. Theembodiment of FIG. 17A differs from the foregoing in that instead ofmultiple connectors 914, 916 or 910, 912, a single non-rotationallysymmetric connector that enforces a predefined orientation (i.e., theconnector can only be connected when the mating connector parts areoriented at a predefined angle), is used instead. Here a peanut shapedtubular extension forming a male connector 920 is shown on the face of acoupling device 922 that is otherwise similar to embodiments describedwith reference to FIG. 7C and FIG. 15A. The peanut shaped male connector920 fits into a female connector 921 with a body 935. The male andfemale connectors 920 and 921 may have the peanut shape shown in FIG.17A. Other embodiments may have any kind of non-round connector and mayincluding butt-type connectors instead of male and female typeconnectors. Thus embodiments may have any of a variety of shapes thatmay restrict the ranges of orientations at which the coupling devicesmay be coupled. An interfering element 932 in the form of a post isshown which fits in a recess 934. One or more interfering elementsand/or holes may be arranged to form various compatible and incompatibleembodiments as described elsewhere. It should be clear that many of thefunctions of the multiple connector embodiments may be provided by thesingle non-round connector embodiment and embodiments derived therefromthat also have single connectors.

Referring now to FIGS. 18A through 18H, an embodiment of a connectorpair is shown with a male connector shown at 940 and a female connectorat 960. The male connector 940 has a shaped distal portion 945,illustrated here by a triangle but other shapes could be used indifferent embodiments. The body 940 is round. An O-ring 944 on the body940 provides a seal with a round opening 967 in the female connector960. The shaped distal portion 945 fits in a correspondingly shapedchannel 969. The shaped channel 969 and shaped distal portion 945 mayensure that embodiments distal portions of other shapes cannot enter thechannel 969. As a result, such embodiments cannot form a seal as shownin FIG. 18G. The male connector 940 has a lumen 943 therein and thefemale connector has a lumen 962 therein. Once inserted to form a seal,the male connector lumen communicates with the female connector lumen962 to form a sealed flow path.

Referring to FIG. 18H, the connector embodiment of FIGS. 18A through 18Gand similar variants thereof may be used to form additional ranges ofinterfering elements in the form of the shapes of the shaped distalportions. The disclosed embodiment of FIGS. 18A through 18G may form abasis for forming further coupling embodiments, for example, ones withmultiple connectors as shown in FIG. 18H at 970 and 972. At 970, acoupling device has connectors 981 and 982 that form a first angularrelationship with respect to the shaped distal ends and a couplingdevice has connectors 983 and 984 that form a second angularrelationship with respect to the shaped distal ends. Thus, couplingdevice 972 would not be compatible with coupling device 970. If theangles of the connectors matched, they would be compatible. Theforegoing feature may be combined with other interfering element schemesto form extended schemes that combine the interference effects.Alternative variants of the features of FIGS. 18A through 18H includeplacing the shaped portion proximal of the sealing part on the maleconnector 940.

In embodiments, the effectiveness of the coupling device selectionenforcement and the inhibition of a circumvention of the enforcementmechanism by a user are enhanced by the fact that the multipleconnectors requires that a certain mutual orientation of the connectorsis required in order to create a complete and non-leaking connection. Tomake a complete connection, for example by making the connection of themale of the first connector to the female of the other whilesimultaneously making the connection of the female of the firstconnector to the male of the other requires the coupling devices bemutually oriented with respect to each other. By ensuring thisorientation, it is possible to provide an array of interference membersthat can provide various types of selectivity between connectors ofdifferent configuration. This is because the interfering elements can belocated at selected points that are sure to come into interferingengagement as a result of the requirement that the coupling devices areproperly oriented. Also, as mentioned, by using the coupling device ofthe disclosed subject matter, the use of a single simple tubular deviceor soft plastic tube end is difficult or impossible to be used to make asealing engagement with the coupling device.

Further embodiments and variations are described below and in theclaims.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof ensuring against improper interconnection of fluid lines. The methodincludes providing a kit including devices with channels that conveyfluid and coupling devices for interconnecting the channels. The methodfurther includes orienting at least some of the coupling devices in sucha way as to sealingly engage multiple connectors of each coupling devicepair such that which when connected each coupling device pair divides aflow through a respective coupling device and reunites the flow at anend of the respective coupling device pair, the arrangement of theconnectors being such as to limit the possible orientations of thecoupling devices with respect to coupling devices to which theyinterconnect. Alternatively the attachment of connectors may block theflow through one of the connectors of the connected coupling device toprevent it from leaking. The number of connectors may vary so otherembodiments may have N connectors with a flow that potentially dividedinto N subflows that are either blocked or combined or even acombination thereof by suitable compatible connectors.

The orienting may include positioning interfering elements of eachcoupling device pair such that the members of the coupling device paircan be brought together, without mutual interference of the interferingelements, when the multiple connectors of each coupling device pair aresealingly engaged. The orienting may include aligning the axes of eachmember of a coupling device pair so that they are parallel. The aligningpositions the multiple connectors of each coupling device on respectivecommon axes thereof. The providing may include providing multiplecoupling devices having interfering elements of the coupling devicesarranged such that orienting respective pairs of the coupling devices tosealingly engage their connectors results in mutual interference of thecoupling devices, which prevents their interconnection. The orientingmay include positioning interfering elements of certain coupling devicepair such that they interfere when the multiple connectors of eachcoupling device pair are positioned with their respective axes alignedso as to be capable of sealingly engaging each other, thereby preventinginterconnection of said certain coupling device pairs.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a fluidchannel coupling system with coupling devices, each having connectorsthat sealingly engage corresponding connectors on the other of thecoupling devices. Each of the coupling device connectors is in fluidcommunication with a common port such that when the connectors of twocoupling devices are mutually engaged, the respective ports are in fluidcommunication with each other and such that when less than all of theconnectors of the two coupling devices are mutually engaged, fluid ispermitted to flow out from either of the respective ports therebycausing a leak. A first of the coupling devices may have at least oneinterfering element that interferes with at least one interferingelement of a second of the coupling devices such that both the firstcoupling device connectors cannot be sealingly engaged with both thesecond coupling device connectors. A first one or more of the couplingdevices may be attached to containers of fluid to form access ports forremoving fluid from the containers and the contents of the containers offluid are different. A fluid circuit may have a coupling device that iscompatible with the first one or more and incompatible with a secondcoupling device attached to a container of fluid.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof preventing the connection of a first coupling device to a secondcoupling device. The method includes providing a coupling device havinga body with a single port with one opening at a first end, a double portwith two openings at a second end, the single port and the double portis interconnected for fluid communication by a branching channel. Themethod includes attaching the single port to a source of fluid andproviding the source of fluid to a site of usage. The sizes andconnections between the openings are such that any attempt to connectone of the two openings of the double port to a fluid receiver andattempting to pass fluid from the source of fluid to the fluid receiverwould result in a substantial leakage of fluid.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a fluidcoupling system. The system includes a first coupling device with afirst body and a second coupling device with a second body. The firstbody has a single port with one opening at a first end, a double portwith two openings at a second end, the single port and the double portis interconnected for fluid communication by a branching channel in saidbody. The second body has a single port with one opening at a first end,a double port with two openings at a second end, the single port and thedouble port is interconnected for fluid communication by a branchingchannel in said body. The first body double port is configured toconnect to the second body double port to form a sealed channelconnecting the first body single port to the second body single port.The first and second coupling devices may be identical. The first andsecond coupling devices may be configured to allow frictional engagementof the first body two openings with the second body two openings to formthe sealed channel. The first body may carry at least one first latchmember and second body carries at least one second latch member, thefirst latch member is configured to interferingly engage the secondlatch member to increase the resistance of the first and second couplingdevices to disconnection. The first latch member may be movable relativeto the major portion of the first body to permit release of anengagement of the first and second latch members. The first body doubleport may have a male cylindrical fitting and a female cylindricalfitting, the first body two openings each is in a respective one of thetwo openings.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a fluidline coupling device kit having a first coupling device having at leasttwo male and/or female connectors. The kit includes a second couplingdevice having at least two male and/or female connectors that areconfigured to sealingly engage with at least two male and/or femaleconnectors of the first coupling device. Each of the first and secondcoupling devices is configured such that the every one of the at leasttwo male and/or female connectors is fluidly coupled to a singlerespective port of said each of the first and second coupling devices.Each of the first and second coupling devices is configured further suchthat, when said second coupling device at least two male and/or femaleconnectors are configured to sealingly engage with the at least two maleand/or female connectors of the first coupling device, flow from thesingle respective port of the first coupling device flows through bothof the at least two male and/or female connectors of each of the firstand second coupling devices to the single respective port of the secondcoupling device. A latch component each of the first and second couplingdevices may be configured mutually to engage when said second couplingdevice at least two male and/or female connectors are configured tosealingly engage. A third and a fourth coupling device may each have atleast two male and/or female connectors that are configured to sealinglyengage with at least two male and/or female connectors of the other ofthe third and fourth coupling devices and further configured such thatat least both of the third and fourth coupling devices are incapable ofsealingly engaging with the at least two male and/or female connectorsof either of the first and second coupling devices. The third fourthcoupling devices may be configured with interference members that permitthem to be interconnected with each other but which prevent them from isinterconnected with either of the first and second coupling devices andfurther configured such that the at least two male and/or femaleconnectors of at least one of the third and fourth coupling devices are,but for an engagement by the interference member, capable of sealinglyengaging the at least two male and/or female connectors of at least oneof the first and second coupling devices. The first and second couplingdevices may be identically configured to permit them to be molded fromthe same mold. The disclosed subject matter includes a method formolding in accord therewith. The first and second coupling devices maybe configured such that they can be molded with a two part mold.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof conveying fluid. The method includes connecting a first sourcechannel to a first destination channel to form a continuous flow path.The method includes flowing fluid through the first source channel intothe first destination channel, the flowing including splitting the flowinto separate branching flows and then recombining the flows at ajunction between the source channel and destination channel. The methodmay include providing a kit with the first source channel and the firstdestination channel as well as a second source and a second destinationchannel and preventing connection of the first source channel to thesecond destination channel. The preventing may include leaking one ofthe branching flows in the event the first source channel is connectedto the second destination channel or the second source channel isconnected to the first destination channel. The preventing may includeleaking an entirety of one of the branching flows in the event the firstsource channel is connected to the second destination channel or thesecond source channel is connected to the first destination channel. Thepreventing may include ensuring the a predefined orientation of couplingdevices, used in the connecting, is required in order to prevent theleaking of an entirety of one of the branching flows and as a result ofthis orientation, an interfering portion of said coupling deviceattached to the first source channel is brought into interferingengagement with a portion of a coupling device attached to the seconddestination channel or an interfering portion of said a coupling deviceattached to the second source channel is brought into interferingengagement with a portion of a coupling device attached to the firstdestination channel.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a kithaving fluid circuits that ensure against improper interconnection offluid lines. The kit includes devices with fluid channels that conveyfluid and coupling devices configured to interconnect the channels. Thecoupling devices are configured to be oriented in such a way as tosealingly engage multiple connectors of each coupling device pair suchthat which when connected each coupling device pair divides a flowthrough a respective coupling device and reunites the flow at an end ofthe respective coupling device pair, the arrangement of the connectorsis such as to limit the possible orientations of the coupling deviceswith respect to coupling devices to which they interconnect. Thecoupling devices may be configured with interfering elements thatmutually interfere when an attempt is made to align the multipleconnectors of a coupling device pair for mutual sealing engagement. Thecoupling device pairs can be interconnected are configured to requirethe alignment of the axes of each member of a coupling device pair sothat they are parallel. The coupling device pairs that can beinterconnected may be configured to require the positioning of themultiple connectors of each coupling device on respective common axesthereof. The coupling devices may include interfering elements arrangedsuch that when certain pairs of the coupling devices are oriented sothat the connectors are mutually aligned so as to make it possible forthem to sealingly engage, the orientation creates mutual interference ofthe coupling devices that prevents their interconnection. The couplingdevices may include interfering elements arranged such that when certainpairs of the coupling devices are oriented so that the connectors aremutually aligned so as to make it possible for them to sealingly engage,the orientation positions the interfering elements so that they do notinterfere thereby allowing the certain pairs to be interconnected.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof ensuring against improper interconnection of fluid circuits. Themethod includes providing a kit including devices with channels thatconvey fluid and coupling devices for interconnecting the channels. Themethod further includes orienting at least one of the coupling devicesin such a way as to sealingly engage multiple connectors of eachcoupling device pair such that which when connected each coupling devicepair divides a flow through a respective coupling device and reunitesthe flow at an end of the respective coupling device pair, thearrangement of the connectors is such as to limit the possibleorientations of the coupling devices with respect to coupling devices towhich they interconnect. The at least one of the coupling devices may bepart of a multiple coupling device arrangement including ones which,when connected, do not divide a flow therethrough. The multiple couplingdevice arrangement coupling devices may be rigidly interconnected so asto position and orient all member coupling devices thereof with respectto respective paired coupling devices, simultaneously. The multiplecoupling device arrangement may include a manifold that is configured toselectively couple for fluid communication among the coupling devicesthereof. The multiple coupling device arrangement may include couplingdevices that have separate fluid channels. The orienting may includepositioning interfering elements of each coupling device pair such thatthe members of the coupling device pair can be brought together, withoutmutual interference of the interfering elements, when the multipleconnectors of each coupling device pair are sealingly engaged. Theorienting may include aligning the axes of each member of a couplingdevice pair so that they are parallel. The aligning may position themultiple connectors of each coupling device on respective common axesthereof. The method may include providing multiple coupling deviceshaving interfering elements of the coupling devices arranged such thatorienting respective pairs of the coupling devices to sealingly engagetheir connectors results in mutual interference of the coupling devices,which prevents their interconnection. The orienting may includepositioning interfering elements of certain coupling device pair suchthat they interfere when the multiple connectors of each coupling devicepair are positioned with their respective axes aligned so as to becapable of sealingly engaging each other, thereby preventinginterconnection of said certain coupling device pairs.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a systemfor preventing misconnection of material conveyances. The systemincludes a set of coupling devices wherein each coupling device of theset has N fluid channels for outputting or receiving a material such asa fluid. Each coupling device the set having N+1 connectors connected tosaid N material channels such that at least one of the N materialchannels is furcated and connects with multiple connectors. Eachcoupling device of the set is configured to connect its N+1 connectorswith at least N+1 connectors of at least one other coupling device ofthe set without leaking from one of the N+1 connectors. Each couplingdevice of the set is configured to prevent the connection of its N+1connectors with the at least N+1 connectors of at least a furthercoupling device of the set without leaking from one of the N+1connectors. The result is that the set forms a variety of couplingdevices capable of forming a variety of unique coupling pairs ofcoupling devices and thereby prevent misconnection of coupling devices.The first coupling devices of the set may have interfering members thatare positioned, shaped, and sized to interfere with second couplingdevices of the set. The first coupling devices of the set may haveinterfering members that are positioned, shaped, and sized to interferewith second coupling devices of the set when the N+1 connectors arepositioned to connect with N+1 connectors of another coupling device ofthe set, such that the first coupling devices are unable to be coupledto the second coupling devices.

The connectors can include any suitable type of connector, for example,they may include male and female connectors, butt-type connectors,and/or needle and septum type connectors. Illustrations of these areshown in the drawings and further examples may be found in the priorart. It is believed that simple substitution of many of the variety ofconnectors available in the art can be made readily to extend the rangeof possible embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Some of thecoupling devices of the set may have connectors that are configured toprevent a leak by blocking a connector of at least one of the Nmaterials channels that is furcated and with which it is connected. Someof the coupling devices of the set may have connectors that areconfigured to prevent a leak by forming a continuous furcated channelfor receiving material from, or conveying material to, connectors offurcated channels. The coupling devices may be configured such that whenthe N+1 connectors of one coupling device are connected with another anda flow of material between the one and another coupling devices isestablished, at least a portion of the flow is divided through one ofthe furcating channels thereof. The coupling devices may be configuredsuch that when the N+1 connectors of one coupling device are connectedwith another and a flow of material between the one and another couplingdevices is established, at least a portion of the flow is blocked thatwould otherwise flow out through one of the furcating channels thereof.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodfor providing a safety system. The method includes providingexclusively, for use in a predetermined set of processes or for use witha predetermined set of devices, coupling devices conforming to thesystems of claims 45 to 52. A predefined subset of said set of fluidcoupling devices may be exclusively connected to a predefined class ofmaterial containers. A predefined subset of said set of fluid couplingdevices may be exclusively connected to a predefined class of medicaldevices.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes systemfor interconnecting material-conveying elements. The system includes aset of coupling devices forming unique inter-connectable pairs, therebyforming sets of compatible and incompatible coupling devices. The systemfurther includes containers and other sources of medical fluids withpre-attached ones of said set of coupling devices. The system includesmedical devices with further pre-attached ones of said set of couplingdevices. Each coupling device is configured to pass fluid through atleast one internal flow channel therein, when connected to a compatiblecoupling device, and to leak fluid from said at least one internal flowchannel, if connected to an incompatible coupling device.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof ensuring against improper interconnection of fluid lines. The methodincludes providing a kit including devices with channels that conveyfluid and coupling devices for interconnecting the channels. The methodalso includes orienting at least some of the coupling devices in such away as to sealingly engage multiple connectors of each coupling devicepair such that which when connected each coupling device may have afurcated channel pair divides a flow through a respective couplingdevice and a connected coupling device with a further furcated channelreunites the flow at an end of the respective coupling device pair, thearrangement of the connectors is such as to limit the possibleorientations of the coupling devices with respect to coupling devices towhich they interconnect. At least one of the coupling devices includesat least one non-furcated channel of the pair of coupling devicesconnects by a single connector to a non-furcated channel on the other ofthe pair. The orienting may include positioning interfering elements ofeach coupling device pair such that the members of the coupling devicepair can be brought together, without mutual interference of theinterfering elements, when the multiple connectors of each couplingdevice pair are sealingly engaged. The orienting may include aligningthe axes of each member of a coupling device pair so that they areparallel. The aligning may position the multiple connectors of eachcoupling device on respective common axes thereof. The providing mayinclude providing multiple coupling devices having interfering elementsof the coupling devices arranged such that orienting respective pairs ofthe coupling devices to sealingly engage their connectors results inmutual interference of the coupling devices, which prevents theirinterconnection. The orienting may include positioning interferingelements of certain coupling device pair such that they interfere whenthe multiple connectors of each coupling device pair are positioned withtheir respective axes aligned so as to be capable of sealingly engagingeach other, thereby preventing interconnection of said certain couplingdevice pairs.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes fluidchannel coupling system. The system includes coupling devices, eachhaving connectors that sealingly engage corresponding connectors on theother of the coupling devices. At least one of the coupling deviceconnectors is in fluid communication with a common port such and theother having its connectors connected to a common port or a closure suchthat when the connectors of two coupling devices are mutually engaged,at least one of the respective ports is in fluid communication withanother and such that when less than all of the connectors of the twocoupling devices are mutually engaged, fluid is permitted to flow outfrom one of the respective ports thereby causing a leak. A first of thecoupling devices may have at least one interfering element thatinterferes with at least one interfering element of a second of thecoupling devices such that both the first coupling device connectorscannot be sealingly engaged with both the second coupling deviceconnectors. A first one or more of the coupling devices may be attachedto containers of fluid to form access ports for removing fluid from thecontainers and the contents of the containers of fluid are different. Afluid circuit may have a coupling device that is compatible with thefirst one or more and incompatible with a second coupling deviceattached to a container of fluid.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof preventing the connection of a first coupling device to a secondcoupling device. The method includes providing a first coupling devicehaving a body with at least one port with one opening at a first end,and a double port with two openings at a second end, the single port andthe double port is interconnected for fluid communication by a branchingchannel and attaching the single port to a source of fluid and providingthe source of fluid to a site of usage. The sizes and connectionsbetween the openings are such that any attempt to connect one of the twoopenings of the double port to a fluid receiver and attempting to passfluid from the source of fluid to the fluid receiver will result in asubstantial leakage of fluid. The method further includes selecting afurther coupling device of an apparatus to consume said fluidresponsively to a compatibility of said further coupling device with thefirst coupling device, wherein the further coupling device may includetwo connectors that connect to said double port, at least one of theconnectors is configured to providing a flow of fluid therethrough. Theother of the connectors may be configured to block from out of at leastone port of the double port.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof preventing the connection of a first coupling device to a secondcoupling device. The method includes providing a first coupling devicehaving a body with at least one port with one opening at a first end,and a multiple port at a second end, the single port and the multipleport is interconnected for fluid communication by a branching channel tocreate a furcating flow therethrough and attaching the single port to asource of fluid and providing the source of fluid to a site of usage.The sizes and connections between the openings is such that any attemptto connect one of the two openings of the multiple port to a fluidreceiver and attempting to pass fluid from the source of fluid to thefluid receiver will result in a substantial leakage of fluid. The methodfurther includes selecting a further coupling device of an apparatus toconsume said fluid responsively to a compatibility of said furthercoupling device with the first coupling device, wherein the furthercoupling device may include multiple connectors that connect to saidmultiple port, at least one of the connectors is configured to providinga flow of fluid therethrough. At least some of the connectors may beconfigured to block from out of at least one port of the multiple port.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a fluidcoupling system. The system includes a first coupling device with afirst body and a second coupling device with a second body. The firstbody has a single port with one opening at a first end and multipleports with multiple openings at a second end, the single port and themultiple ports is interconnected for fluid communication by a branchingchannel in said body. The second body has a single port with one openingat a first end, multiple port with multiple openings at a second end,the single port and the multiple port is interconnected for fluidcommunication by a branching channel in said body. The first body doubleport may be configured to connect to the second body multiple port toform a sealed channel connecting the first body single port to thesecond body single port. The first body may include one or more furtherports having non-branching channels that are automatically positionedand oriented for connection to further ports of the second body when themultiple ports of the first and second bodies are positioned andoriented for connection. The first and second coupling devices may beidentical to permit the molding thereof with a single mold. The firstand second coupling devices may be configured to allow frictionalengagement of the first body two openings with the second body twoopenings to form the sealed channel. The first body may carry at leastone first latch member and second body carries at least one second latchmember, the first latch member is configured to interferingly engage thesecond latch member to increase the resistance of the first and secondcoupling devices to disconnection. The first latch member may be movablerelative to the major portion of the first body to permit release of anengagement of the first and second latch members. The first bodymultiple port may have a male cylindrical fitting and a femalecylindrical fitting, the first body two openings each is in a respectiveone of the two openings.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a fluidline coupling device kit. The kit includes a first coupling devicehaving at least two male and/or female connectors and a second couplingdevice having at least two male and/or female connectors that areconfigured to sealingly engage with at least two male and/or femaleconnectors of the first coupling device. At least one of the first andsecond coupling devices is configured such that the every one of the atleast two male and/or female connectors thereof is fluidly coupled to asingle respective port of said at least one of the first and secondcoupling devices. Ones of the first and second coupling devices isconfigured further such that, when said second coupling device at leasttwo male and/or female connectors are configured to sealingly engagewith the at least two male and/or female connectors of the firstcoupling device, and further configured such that a flow from the singlerespective port of the first coupling device flows through one or bothof the at least two male and/or female connectors of the first couplingdevice to the single respective port of the second coupling devicewithout leaking, at least one of the male and/or female connectors isconfigured to capture or block the flow from a connected one of the maleand/or connectors. A latch component each of the first and secondcoupling devices may be configured mutually to engage when said secondcoupling device at least two male and/or female connectors areconfigured to sealingly engage. A third and a fourth coupling deviceeach may have at least two male and/or female connectors that areconfigured to sealingly engage with at least two male and/or femaleconnectors of the other of the third and fourth coupling devices andfurther configured such that at least both of the third and fourthcoupling devices are incapable of sealingly engaging with the at leasttwo male and/or female connectors of either of the first and secondcoupling devices. The third and fourth coupling devices may beconfigured with interference members that permit them to beinterconnected with each other but which prevent them from isinterconnected with either of the first and second coupling devices andfurther configured such that the at least two male and/or femaleconnectors of at least one of the third and fourth coupling devices are,but for an engagement by the interference member, capable of sealinglyengaging the at least two male and/or female connectors of at least oneof the first and second coupling devices. The first and second couplingdevices may be identically configured. The first and second couplingdevices may be configured such that they can be molded with a two partmold.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof conveying fluid, connecting a first source channel to a firstdestination channel to form a continuous flow path. The method includesflowing fluid through the first source channel into the firstdestination channel, the flowing including splitting the flow intoseparate branching flows that flow through the connector at an interfacethereof and then recombining the flows. The method may include providinga kit with the first source channel and the first destination channel aswell as a second source and a second destination channel and preventingconnection of the first source channel to the second destinationchannel. The preventing may include leaking one of the branching flowsin the event the first source channel is connected to the seconddestination channel or the second source channel is connected to thefirst destination channel. The preventing may include leaking anentirety of one of the branching flows in the event the first sourcechannel is connected to the second destination channel or the secondsource channel is connected to the first destination channel. Thepreventing may include ensuring the a predefined orientation of couplingdevices, used in the connecting, is required in order to prevent theleaking of an entirety of one of the branching flows and as a result ofthis orientation, an interfering portion of said coupling deviceattached to the first source channel is brought into interferingengagement with a portion of a coupling device attached to the seconddestination channel or an interfering portion of said a coupling deviceattached to the second source channel is brought into interferingengagement with a portion of a coupling device attached to the firstdestination channel.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a kithaving fluid circuits that ensure against improper interconnection offluid lines. The kit includes devices with fluid channels that conveyfluid and coupling devices configured to interconnect the channels. Thecoupling devices are configured to be oriented in such a way as tosealingly engage multiple connectors of each coupling device pair suchthat which when connected each coupling device pair divides a flowthrough a respective coupling device and either blocks or reunites theflow at an end of the respective coupling device pair, the arrangementof the connectors is such as to limit the possible orientations of thecoupling devices with respect to coupling devices to which theyinterconnect. The coupling devices may be configured with interferingelements that mutually interfere when an attempt is made to align themultiple connectors of a coupling device pair for mutual sealingengagement. The coupling device pairs that can be interconnected may beconfigured to require the alignment of the axes of each member of acoupling device pair so that they are parallel.

According to embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a methodof ensuring against improper interconnection of fluid circuits. Themethod includes providing a kit including devices with channels thatconvey fluid and coupling devices for interconnecting the channels andorienting at least one of the coupling devices in such a way as tosealingly engage multiple connectors of each coupling device pair suchthat which when connected each coupling device pair divides a flowthrough a respective coupling device and blocks one of the flows orreunites the divided flow at an end of the respective coupling devicepair, the arrangement of the connectors is such as to limit the possibleorientations of the coupling devices with respect to coupling devices towhich they interconnect. The at least one of the coupling devices may bepart of a multiple coupling device arrangement including ones which,when connected, do not divide a flow therethrough. The multiple couplingdevice arrangement coupling devices may be rigidly interconnected so asto position and orient all member coupling devices thereof with respectto respective paired coupling devices, simultaneously. The multiplecoupling device arrangement may include a manifold that is configured toselectively couple for fluid communication among the coupling devicesthereof.

In all of the foregoing embodiments, the interfering elements may bedevices that rely on magnetic or electrical forces to block the couplingof incompatible coupling devices. Also, magnetic forces may be used toprovide orientation enforcement. In embodiments, permanent magnets areintegrated in coupling device embodiments. For form selectiveinterfering elements, they may be positioned and numbered in varyingarrangements (or shaped, sized, or otherwise configured) to form avariety of compatible and incompatible species. Magnets may also providea means for making the connection so the incompatible species may pusheach other away while compatible ones pull together to mate.

It is, thus, apparent that there is provided, in accordance with thepresent disclosure, methods, devices and systems for connecting fluidlines. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations are enabled bythe present disclosure. Features of the disclosed embodiments can becombined, rearranged, omitted, etc., within the scope of the inventionto produce additional embodiments. Furthermore, certain features maysometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, Applicants intend to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations that are withinthe spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for ensuring against improperinterconnection of fluid lines, comprising: a kit including devices withchannels that convey fluid, and coupling devices for interconnecting thechannels; each of the coupling devices including at least one connectorthat must be oriented in predefined physical relationship in order toconnect to the at least one connector of a paired one of the couplingdevices; interfering elements arranged on at least some of the couplingdevices that prevent said at least some of the coupling devices frombeing connected to first others of the coupling devices but permit saidat least some of the coupling devices to be connected to second othersof the coupling devices, wherein the at least some of the couplingdevices are configured such that the orientation in the predefinedphysical relationship brings the at least one interfering element ofeach of the at least some of the coupling devices into interferingengagement with the at least one interfering element of the firstothers, each coupling device of the least some of the coupling devicesincludes a plurality of connectors that connect to a furcated channelthat converges to a single channel inside the coupling device, and saidplurality of connectors on at least one of the coupling devices includesat least one male connector and at least one female connector configuredto interfit with at least one female connector and at least one maleconnector, respectively, on another of the coupling devices.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the coupling devices are configured such thatorienting for coupling the at least one connector of any two matingpairs positions interfering elements of each coupling device pair suchthat the members of the coupling device pair can be brought together orare prevented from coming together, when the multiple connectors of eachcoupling device pair are sealingly engaged and such that the couplingdevices cannot be coupled with an identical coupling device.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the predefined physical relationship includesaligned axes of each member of a coupling device pair so that they areparallel.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interfering elements ofthe coupling devices are arranged such that orienting respective pairsof the coupling devices to sealingly engage their connectors results inmutual interference of the coupling devices, which prevents theirinterconnection.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefinedphysical relationship positions interfering elements of certain couplingdevice pair such that they interfere when the multiple connectors ofeach coupling device pair are positioned with their respective axesaligned so as to be capable of sealingly engaging each other, therebypreventing interconnection of said certain coupling device pairs.
 6. Afluid channel coupling system for conveying a fluid, comprising:coupling devices, each having connectors that sealingly engagecorresponding connectors on another of the coupling devices; each of theconnectors being in fluid communication with a common port that furcateswithin the coupling device such that when the connectors of two couplingdevices are mutually engaged, the respective ports are in fluidcommunication with each other and such that when less than all of theconnectors of the two coupling devices are mutually engaged, the fluidconveyed by the fluid channel coupling system is permitted to flow outfrom either of the respective ports thereby causing a leak, wherein atleast one of the coupling devices includes at least one male connectorand at least one female connector configured to interfit with at leastone female connector and at least one male connector, respectively, ofanother of said coupling devices.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein afirst of the coupling devices has at least one interfering element thatinterferes with at least one interfering element of a second of thecoupling devices such that both the first coupling device connectorscannot be sealingly engaged with both the second coupling deviceconnectors.
 8. The system of claim 6, wherein a first one or more of thecoupling devices are attached to containers of fluid to form accessports for removing fluid from the containers and the contents of thecontainers of fluid are different.
 9. The system of claim 8, furthercomprising a fluid circuit having a coupling device that is compatiblewith the first one or more of the coupling devices and incompatible witha second coupling device attached to a container of fluid.
 10. A fluidcoupling system, comprising: a first coupling device with a first bodyand a second coupling device with a second body; the first body having asingle port with one opening at a first end, a double port with at leasta first male connector and a first female connector at a second end, thesingle port and the double port being interconnected for fluidcommunication by a branching channel in said body; the second body witha single port with one opening at a first end, a double port with atleast a second male connector and a second female connector at a secondend, the single port and the double port being interconnected for fluidcommunication by a branching channel in said body; the first body doubleport being configured to connect to the second body double port to forma sealed channel connecting the first body single port to the secondbody single port wherein the first male connector and the first femaleconnector of the first body interfit with the second female connectorand the second male connector of the second body.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the first and second coupling devices are identical.12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second couplingdevices are configured to allow frictional engagement of the first bodyconnectors with the second body connectors to form the sealed channel.13. The system of claim 10, wherein the first body carries at least onefirst latch member and the second body carries at least one second latchmember, the first latch member being configured to interferingly engagethe second latch member to increase the resistance of the first andsecond coupling devices to disconnection.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the first latch member is movable relative to the major portionof the first body to permit release of an engagement of the first andsecond latch members.